A fishy activity

The best time to go fishing in the south is from December till April, but this month sees the start of the activity in the north, especially in the Ramganga river. Fishing enthusiasts head to Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, where the Ramganga flows. Incidentally, the Ramganga can be fished during the non monsoon period of September to June, after which the rains hit, by the second week of June. Adventure hunters can choose from eight varieties of this river fish. Dhananjai Golla, president, Anglers’ Club, India, brings us up to speed on the skills demanded in this sporting activity and how you can get started.

Map the catch

The mahseer thrives in several parts of India - think the Dodda Makkal Fishing Camp and Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp, Karnataka and the Ramganga River in North India. One of the best places for angling is in the Corbett National Park. The Ramganga River, thanks to its clear glacial waters, has several opportunities for anglers, from white water rapids to deep holes. Other popular places around India include the Jia Bhoroli river, Nayar River, the Ganges, Garhwal, and the rivers Kali and Sarju, in Kumaon.

Group effort

The Chennai-based Anglers Club of India, with Romulus Whitaker as an honorary member, was started in 1998. Over the years, the group has grown into a diverse gathering - think expats, businessmen, architects, lawyers and engineers, not all of whom are from Chennai. There is a membership fee (Rs 4,800- Rs 6,000) and fishing tackle can be rented on a daily basis. The annual Mahseer Classic contest, organised by this club sees anglers coming in from abroad, to set up camp in Bheemeshwari.Facilities are provided by Karnataka Tourism. The club is organising a trip to Pancheswar, Uttarakhand, this year, and first-timers are welcome.

Details: anglersclub.in

Go fish

For the uninitiated, Golla explains the process of ‘spinning’ or ‘lure fishing’. “The spinner or lure can be worked from different parts of the river to mimic wounded and fleeing baitfish. The lure are in specific colours – silver, gold, brown, black, blue/white and white/green, which have to closely resemble crabs, frogs, flies and fruit. Another method is ragi or ‘pastebait fishing’ which was banned, in order to get the fish back to their natural way of hunting and feeding.

Now, the ‘livebait’ method, which uses fresh minnows, worms and leeches is the best choice for the mahseer,” Golla explains.

Administering CPR

Most anglers approach fishing purely as a sport and practise CPR - Catch, Picture and Release. That is they do not take home the fish they catch, especially the smaller ones. “Once we catch a fish and hook it, we pose with it and release the fish,” says Golla. The Anglers’ Club has just one rule, according to Golla, “Whether the fish is endangered or not, it must be put back into the water.” Where to stay Jung l e Lodge s & Re sorts ’ Bheemeshwari fishing and nature camp, Karnataka, has eight ethnic loghuts on stilts and cottages. Apart from fishing for the mahseer, one can participate in activities like ziplining, kayaking and parallel walks.

Priced from Rs 4,000 onwards.

Details: junglelodges.com